You're about to embark upon one of life's greatest adventures and all of us here at Parent24 are thrilled to be able to shed some light on what's happening with you and your baby every single week.

Your egg and sperm

Here's news: you're not pregnant yet! This week you'll be having your monthly menstrual period. Why say it's week 1 then? The way to determine a baby's due date is based on the first day of your last period, plus 40 weeks.

Right now this week, while you're shedding your uterine lining from last month's cycle, your ovaries each are already producing another 15 to 20 eggs, growing nicely, starting to mature, every egg inside its own follicle. The follicle that is ripe first will release an egg – what we call ovulation.

The baby-making sperm are already in dad's testes. It takes around 3 months for sperm to form.

Mom will be ovulating, and possibly fertilising the ripe egg, around the end of week 2 if your cycle is a regular 28 days (otherwise you can count 14 days before your next period would have been due). By the end of the first month, the embryo is biologically only 2 weeks old.

How you may be feeling

Guys, remember that you are a major factor in the conception process – your baby's gender is determined by whether the egg is fertilised with a sperm that carries an X chromosome (it's a girl) or one with a Y (it's a boy). That part is up to you!

Tip of the week: Your health comes first

Now is a crucial time to pay special attention to your health. Cut out alcohol, any recreational drugs and smoking, speak to your doctor about any prescription drugs you're taking (they might affect your fertility or the development of your baby).

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